Re: 4 yrs searching for solution!!
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:09 pm
Dear Sir;
My son is almost 6 months old (Born on April Fools Day). He was born at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida, USA. Very similiar to your sister, my son's OB screwed up badly, and went into a panic, and yanked my sons neck, and eventually (after the NICU emergency button was hit, and the NICU staff came running in) he reached in and yanked the baby terribly to get him out. He was crushed in the pelvis and suffered severe birth trauma due the this doctors extreme negligence dealing with Shoulder Distocia.
His APGAR score was low after birth, and you could see his arm was not moving. But, within a few hours of the birth, the arm not moving was not our only concern. He had a double pneumothorax (collapsed lungs) and was placed on CPAP. Eventually, he took turn for the worst and went on a ventilator and has chest tube placed.
Thankfully, with the skill of the Neonatal ICU staff, he evenually made a recovery from the lung collapse.
However, he suffered Complete (Total/ Global) Brachial Plexus Palsy on the left side, as well damage to his left diaphram. Additionally, it was clear he was suffering from Horners Syndrome on the left side of face & eye caused by the Brachial Plexus Palsy injury.
Through therapy from 4 weeks into 5 moths, we saw no improvement at all. He had complete paralysis on the left side from diaphram, through the shoulder and the entire arm.
After MRI in month 5 showed at least 2 avulsions as well as the covering from his spinal colum being torn and spinal fluid to leak out (this caused a cyst to form on his spine), it was decided to do immediate surgery. However, the cyst is inoperable and we will need to monitor it as he grows.
I need to point out that we followed up with experts from Boston, MA; St. Louis, MO; to Miami, Florida. We decided to go with the Brachial Plexus Palsy team working out of Miami Childrens Hospital, Miami, Florida.
The surgeon is reknowned; Dr. John A.I. Grossman, M.D., F.A.C.S. in Miami, FLorida. He is a plastic surgeon, as well as a face surgeon, hand and nerve surgeon specialist. He is well known as a vastly knowledgeable expert in Pediatric Neurosurgery dealing with Brachial Plexus Palsy.
Upon doing surgery, he found the damage severe and extreme. All nerves were avulsed except for C7, which was torn. He used the nerves from the back of both legs and created a large and extensive graft transplant. Hopefully, with Gods grace, this transplant will work and we will see some regeneration.
My son is back in PT/OT as well as seeing two Osteopathic Doctors for his crush injuries (Spine, hips, cranial).
I will tell you this: spend time, and research the right and proper doctors for your sisters follow up treatment and care.
Never give up! I will not.
If you want, you can go to Dr. Grossmans Website @
http://www.handandnervespecialist.com/
Phone (305) 666-2004.
The information site for the Miami Childrens Hospital Brachial Plexus Palsy program is:
http://www.mch.com/clinical/neuroscience/brachial.htm
Good luck to you and your sister.
God Bless.
Jim S.
My son is almost 6 months old (Born on April Fools Day). He was born at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida, USA. Very similiar to your sister, my son's OB screwed up badly, and went into a panic, and yanked my sons neck, and eventually (after the NICU emergency button was hit, and the NICU staff came running in) he reached in and yanked the baby terribly to get him out. He was crushed in the pelvis and suffered severe birth trauma due the this doctors extreme negligence dealing with Shoulder Distocia.
His APGAR score was low after birth, and you could see his arm was not moving. But, within a few hours of the birth, the arm not moving was not our only concern. He had a double pneumothorax (collapsed lungs) and was placed on CPAP. Eventually, he took turn for the worst and went on a ventilator and has chest tube placed.
Thankfully, with the skill of the Neonatal ICU staff, he evenually made a recovery from the lung collapse.
However, he suffered Complete (Total/ Global) Brachial Plexus Palsy on the left side, as well damage to his left diaphram. Additionally, it was clear he was suffering from Horners Syndrome on the left side of face & eye caused by the Brachial Plexus Palsy injury.
Through therapy from 4 weeks into 5 moths, we saw no improvement at all. He had complete paralysis on the left side from diaphram, through the shoulder and the entire arm.
After MRI in month 5 showed at least 2 avulsions as well as the covering from his spinal colum being torn and spinal fluid to leak out (this caused a cyst to form on his spine), it was decided to do immediate surgery. However, the cyst is inoperable and we will need to monitor it as he grows.
I need to point out that we followed up with experts from Boston, MA; St. Louis, MO; to Miami, Florida. We decided to go with the Brachial Plexus Palsy team working out of Miami Childrens Hospital, Miami, Florida.
The surgeon is reknowned; Dr. John A.I. Grossman, M.D., F.A.C.S. in Miami, FLorida. He is a plastic surgeon, as well as a face surgeon, hand and nerve surgeon specialist. He is well known as a vastly knowledgeable expert in Pediatric Neurosurgery dealing with Brachial Plexus Palsy.
Upon doing surgery, he found the damage severe and extreme. All nerves were avulsed except for C7, which was torn. He used the nerves from the back of both legs and created a large and extensive graft transplant. Hopefully, with Gods grace, this transplant will work and we will see some regeneration.
My son is back in PT/OT as well as seeing two Osteopathic Doctors for his crush injuries (Spine, hips, cranial).
I will tell you this: spend time, and research the right and proper doctors for your sisters follow up treatment and care.
Never give up! I will not.
If you want, you can go to Dr. Grossmans Website @
http://www.handandnervespecialist.com/
Phone (305) 666-2004.
The information site for the Miami Childrens Hospital Brachial Plexus Palsy program is:
http://www.mch.com/clinical/neuroscience/brachial.htm
Good luck to you and your sister.
God Bless.
Jim S.